Arrival
The Blade Sniper trudged along the vast sea of green grass. Its sleek body slid quickly through the meadow as it switched its gait to a trot. The Zoid suddenly stopped. It raised its head and stood completely still, as if straining to hear something. There was a sudden burst of electricity, and the Blade Sniper fell to the ground. A black Berserk Fuhrer-looking Zoid walked up to the downed Zoid. It flared its flaming wings and roared.
"Who are you?" the pilot of the Fuhrer asked.
Kat knew there was nothing she could do. She had sensed the Zoid arriving, but she didn't think it would attack. Kat crossed her arms.
"I should be asking you that, since you paralyzed my Zoid without even finding out who I was."
"This area is a Zoid reserve. You shouldn't be here," Shinigami answered.
"What are you doing here then?" Kat shot back.
The Blade Sniper growled, reflecting its pilot's annoyance. The Death Raptor growled back.
"I was hired to monitor the area. I needed some extra cash, and this was the only good job I could find," Shinigami spat.
The electricity was beginning to wear off. Kat found that she could move the Blade Sniper's legs now. The Zoid stood up and faced the Death Raptor.
"I didn't know this was a reserve. I just happened to stumble across this area. I've been traveling for a long while and I was looking for somewhere to rest."
The Death Raptor nodded its head in an eastern direction. "The city of Dranuer is not far that way."
"Alright. Thanks," the Blade Sniper nodded its head slightly and turned in the direction of Dranuer.
But just as Kat took a step forward, there was a rumbling. Both Zoids backed up. The rumbling grew, and finally there was what seemed to be an explosion. The Death Raptor and Blade Sniper were thrown backwards and onto the ground. A Death Stinger burst out of the ground. Its pincers were wide open as it stared down at the two Zoids that weren't even half its size.
"What the hell!?" Kat exclaimed.
The Blade Sniper was on its feet in a flash. It leapt toward the Stinger, which just tossed the cheetah-type Zoid aside. The Sniper got back up and charged again. Again, the Stinger flicked the Zoid away.
"What's with this thing?!" Kat yelled in frustration.
"It's...The Death Stinger!" Shinigami said in awe.
"No way! That thing was destroyed for good when the Backdraft was over thrown. This must be some mock-up or something..." But Kat knew she was only kidding herself. This thing was indeed the Death Stinger.
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The Kreuz Team soon recovered from their encounter with the demon-woman. All except for Vega. He was still lying in his room, eyes closed. It was have seemed he was dead, if his heart hadn't still been beating. The members were silent in the room, mourning. Jamie Hermeros, the pilot of the Raynos and former member of the infamous Blitz Team was sitting in a chair, head down resting on his knuckles. Ryo Strat, known as Cloud, stood mutely next to Rit who was kneeling at the bedside, Vega's hand tightly clasped in hers. The only one who didn't seem to be in bereavement was Nick Blaze, more commonly known as Death. He hadn't been on the team because he wanted to. Not really. He had never loved or even liked his captain. All he had was respect for Vega Obscura. Nothing more, nothing less.
K.O. stood in the doorway, leaning against the frame. He bit his lip. That demon-lady had done this to the Kreuz Team. What was stopping her from doing the same to his? K.O. walked away.
'And what if she does come after us? Then what?' he pondered.
As he walked through the hallway, he abruptly punched the wall. The wall shuddered under the impact. How could he stop this thing? Where did it come from? Why is it here? Questions swam in K.O.'s head. He couldn't stand it anymore. He turned and punched the other wall. He punched it again. And again. K.O. continued to punch the wall until the wall was decorated with a large dent. His knuckles were bloody. K.O. walked away. Angel, Ariel, and Strider came running down the hall.
"What's going on?" Ariel asked in panic.
K.O. walked passed them without a word. They prodded him, trying to get something out of him, but they knew he wouldn't have any of it. They left him alone to walk around as he pleased. Ariel sat down on the couch. Drake walked up in front of her, arms crossed over his chest.
"Look. I fought your battle, we won. I get paid, and I leave. That's how the merc business works."
Ariel blew up. "What the HELL are you talking about!? We've won absolutely nothing! That stupid demon is still out there trying to destroy Zi! Did you see what she did to the Kreuz Team?! To Vega?! That could happen to any one of us! And now you're standing here saying you want some damn cash and bail on us?! FINE! Damn you! Damn that demon! Damn this world!!! I'm out!"
Ariel stomped off and locked herself in the control room. Drake stood alone in the room. He scowled and walked away to the hangar. The sun began to set over the Last Guard Team base.
A dark figure stood in a tree, leaning against the trunk. A smirk covered the fox-demon's face.
"The humans are in distress. They do not know what to do. Now, they are not only being destroyed physically, but mentally as well. Soon enough, they may destroy themselves. Lady Inari will be most pleased."
Enko turned and jumped off the trees. She stole one last glance at the base, and ran off into the slowly dying day.
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Shane awoke with a sudden screech from Arrow.
"Ah! I'm up!" Shane yelled.
Arrow fluttered her wings. Shane looked glumly at the falcon and cocked her eyebrow.
"It's times like these I wish I'd kept that cute little turtle," Shane grumbled and turned away from Arrow.
The falcon puffed up her feathers and flew off, as if insulted. Shane smiled in her sleeping bag. The she sat up.
"Wait a second? Jason never woke me up for watch!"
Shane stumbled out of the tent and looked over. Jason was cooking something with Jake over a small fire. He turned to Shane and grinned.
"Morning."
Shane glared angrily at Jason. She pointed an accusing finger.
"You, were suppose to wake me up for watch!"
"Sorry, sheesh. I just thought I'd take the whole rest of the night. You were sleeping so soundly anyway, and I couldn't sleep," Jason said casually with a shrug. "If anything, I'd thought you'd be happy that I didn't wake you up."
But Shane stomped over to Jason and whacked him over the head. Jason stood up and held his head.
"Ow! Damnit! What the hell was that for?!"
"Jerk," Shane said with a slight grin.
Jason cocked his eyebrow, and lunged toward Shane. But as he neared her, he stopped. He put his hands over his mouth, and backed away, eyes wide.
"What's wrong Jason?" Jake said, and stood up from the bacon he was frying.
Jason shook his head and ran off into the woods. He stumbled through the bushes and fell, scrapping his knees. He took his hands away from his mouth and looked down at them. They were trembling.
"What's...happening?" he said in a shaky voice.
When Shane had gotten near him, he had smelt blood. Fresh, warm, healthy blood pumping through every vein and artery in her body. When he had gotten a whiff of it, he had a sudden urge to want to taste it. He wanted to feel the warmth of the blood spilling into his mouth seeping through his -- No! Jason thought to himself suddenly. He clutched his head.
"Jason? Hello? Are you okay? Jason! Where did you go?!" Shane called.
Her voice was distant. Jason scrambled to his feet. He couldn't get near her again. The same gnawing hunger...
'Don't think about it,' Jason ordered himself.
He heard footsteps approaching. Jason ran. He ran away from Shane, from the footsteps, from the hunger. He kept running and running until he felt a rumbling. Jason turned and found his Zabat behind him. But as he walked toward the Zoid, he tripped over something. A gun. Jason stared at it. He didn't remember ever drawing his gun. Jason felt the holster. Empty. Confused, Jason picked the gun up and continued to walk toward the Zabat. A sudden wave of nausea hit him and Jason stumbled forward and grabbed onto his Zoid. Jason felt the Zoid tremble under his touch. The Zabat knew something was wrong with its pilot. It wanted to fly away. It wanted to get away from this creature that hungered for flesh, blood, and life force. Only the Zabat's extreme loyalty for its pilot kept it there. Jason tried to pull himself to his feet, but he let go and fell to the ground. He looked down at his hands again. He had felt the life force of the Zoid flowing through the Zoid Core of his Zabat. Another spasm of hunger hit Jason as he lurched away from the Zoid.
"What's happening to me?!" he cried out.
Jason managed to stagger a few steps away from the Zoid, then fell to his knees. His eyes were wide with alarm. He didn't know what was happening. He didn't know why he had this excruciating hunger for blood and life energy. He didn't know what had happened before he had fallen asleep.
'If only I knew,' Jason thought as he stood on all fours, clutching the earth with his hands, staring down at the whirling green and brown spiral below him.
{A/N: Getting better? Am I reeling you fishies in? Hehe... Don't worry, I'll update soon enough... Just wait like good little boys and girls and you will get the update you want. Just don't forget to review! ^.~}
The Blade Sniper trudged along the vast sea of green grass. Its sleek body slid quickly through the meadow as it switched its gait to a trot. The Zoid suddenly stopped. It raised its head and stood completely still, as if straining to hear something. There was a sudden burst of electricity, and the Blade Sniper fell to the ground. A black Berserk Fuhrer-looking Zoid walked up to the downed Zoid. It flared its flaming wings and roared.
"Who are you?" the pilot of the Fuhrer asked.
Kat knew there was nothing she could do. She had sensed the Zoid arriving, but she didn't think it would attack. Kat crossed her arms.
"I should be asking you that, since you paralyzed my Zoid without even finding out who I was."
"This area is a Zoid reserve. You shouldn't be here," Shinigami answered.
"What are you doing here then?" Kat shot back.
The Blade Sniper growled, reflecting its pilot's annoyance. The Death Raptor growled back.
"I was hired to monitor the area. I needed some extra cash, and this was the only good job I could find," Shinigami spat.
The electricity was beginning to wear off. Kat found that she could move the Blade Sniper's legs now. The Zoid stood up and faced the Death Raptor.
"I didn't know this was a reserve. I just happened to stumble across this area. I've been traveling for a long while and I was looking for somewhere to rest."
The Death Raptor nodded its head in an eastern direction. "The city of Dranuer is not far that way."
"Alright. Thanks," the Blade Sniper nodded its head slightly and turned in the direction of Dranuer.
But just as Kat took a step forward, there was a rumbling. Both Zoids backed up. The rumbling grew, and finally there was what seemed to be an explosion. The Death Raptor and Blade Sniper were thrown backwards and onto the ground. A Death Stinger burst out of the ground. Its pincers were wide open as it stared down at the two Zoids that weren't even half its size.
"What the hell!?" Kat exclaimed.
The Blade Sniper was on its feet in a flash. It leapt toward the Stinger, which just tossed the cheetah-type Zoid aside. The Sniper got back up and charged again. Again, the Stinger flicked the Zoid away.
"What's with this thing?!" Kat yelled in frustration.
"It's...The Death Stinger!" Shinigami said in awe.
"No way! That thing was destroyed for good when the Backdraft was over thrown. This must be some mock-up or something..." But Kat knew she was only kidding herself. This thing was indeed the Death Stinger.
-----------------------------------------
The Kreuz Team soon recovered from their encounter with the demon-woman. All except for Vega. He was still lying in his room, eyes closed. It was have seemed he was dead, if his heart hadn't still been beating. The members were silent in the room, mourning. Jamie Hermeros, the pilot of the Raynos and former member of the infamous Blitz Team was sitting in a chair, head down resting on his knuckles. Ryo Strat, known as Cloud, stood mutely next to Rit who was kneeling at the bedside, Vega's hand tightly clasped in hers. The only one who didn't seem to be in bereavement was Nick Blaze, more commonly known as Death. He hadn't been on the team because he wanted to. Not really. He had never loved or even liked his captain. All he had was respect for Vega Obscura. Nothing more, nothing less.
K.O. stood in the doorway, leaning against the frame. He bit his lip. That demon-lady had done this to the Kreuz Team. What was stopping her from doing the same to his? K.O. walked away.
'And what if she does come after us? Then what?' he pondered.
As he walked through the hallway, he abruptly punched the wall. The wall shuddered under the impact. How could he stop this thing? Where did it come from? Why is it here? Questions swam in K.O.'s head. He couldn't stand it anymore. He turned and punched the other wall. He punched it again. And again. K.O. continued to punch the wall until the wall was decorated with a large dent. His knuckles were bloody. K.O. walked away. Angel, Ariel, and Strider came running down the hall.
"What's going on?" Ariel asked in panic.
K.O. walked passed them without a word. They prodded him, trying to get something out of him, but they knew he wouldn't have any of it. They left him alone to walk around as he pleased. Ariel sat down on the couch. Drake walked up in front of her, arms crossed over his chest.
"Look. I fought your battle, we won. I get paid, and I leave. That's how the merc business works."
Ariel blew up. "What the HELL are you talking about!? We've won absolutely nothing! That stupid demon is still out there trying to destroy Zi! Did you see what she did to the Kreuz Team?! To Vega?! That could happen to any one of us! And now you're standing here saying you want some damn cash and bail on us?! FINE! Damn you! Damn that demon! Damn this world!!! I'm out!"
Ariel stomped off and locked herself in the control room. Drake stood alone in the room. He scowled and walked away to the hangar. The sun began to set over the Last Guard Team base.
A dark figure stood in a tree, leaning against the trunk. A smirk covered the fox-demon's face.
"The humans are in distress. They do not know what to do. Now, they are not only being destroyed physically, but mentally as well. Soon enough, they may destroy themselves. Lady Inari will be most pleased."
Enko turned and jumped off the trees. She stole one last glance at the base, and ran off into the slowly dying day.
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Shane awoke with a sudden screech from Arrow.
"Ah! I'm up!" Shane yelled.
Arrow fluttered her wings. Shane looked glumly at the falcon and cocked her eyebrow.
"It's times like these I wish I'd kept that cute little turtle," Shane grumbled and turned away from Arrow.
The falcon puffed up her feathers and flew off, as if insulted. Shane smiled in her sleeping bag. The she sat up.
"Wait a second? Jason never woke me up for watch!"
Shane stumbled out of the tent and looked over. Jason was cooking something with Jake over a small fire. He turned to Shane and grinned.
"Morning."
Shane glared angrily at Jason. She pointed an accusing finger.
"You, were suppose to wake me up for watch!"
"Sorry, sheesh. I just thought I'd take the whole rest of the night. You were sleeping so soundly anyway, and I couldn't sleep," Jason said casually with a shrug. "If anything, I'd thought you'd be happy that I didn't wake you up."
But Shane stomped over to Jason and whacked him over the head. Jason stood up and held his head.
"Ow! Damnit! What the hell was that for?!"
"Jerk," Shane said with a slight grin.
Jason cocked his eyebrow, and lunged toward Shane. But as he neared her, he stopped. He put his hands over his mouth, and backed away, eyes wide.
"What's wrong Jason?" Jake said, and stood up from the bacon he was frying.
Jason shook his head and ran off into the woods. He stumbled through the bushes and fell, scrapping his knees. He took his hands away from his mouth and looked down at them. They were trembling.
"What's...happening?" he said in a shaky voice.
When Shane had gotten near him, he had smelt blood. Fresh, warm, healthy blood pumping through every vein and artery in her body. When he had gotten a whiff of it, he had a sudden urge to want to taste it. He wanted to feel the warmth of the blood spilling into his mouth seeping through his -- No! Jason thought to himself suddenly. He clutched his head.
"Jason? Hello? Are you okay? Jason! Where did you go?!" Shane called.
Her voice was distant. Jason scrambled to his feet. He couldn't get near her again. The same gnawing hunger...
'Don't think about it,' Jason ordered himself.
He heard footsteps approaching. Jason ran. He ran away from Shane, from the footsteps, from the hunger. He kept running and running until he felt a rumbling. Jason turned and found his Zabat behind him. But as he walked toward the Zoid, he tripped over something. A gun. Jason stared at it. He didn't remember ever drawing his gun. Jason felt the holster. Empty. Confused, Jason picked the gun up and continued to walk toward the Zabat. A sudden wave of nausea hit him and Jason stumbled forward and grabbed onto his Zoid. Jason felt the Zoid tremble under his touch. The Zabat knew something was wrong with its pilot. It wanted to fly away. It wanted to get away from this creature that hungered for flesh, blood, and life force. Only the Zabat's extreme loyalty for its pilot kept it there. Jason tried to pull himself to his feet, but he let go and fell to the ground. He looked down at his hands again. He had felt the life force of the Zoid flowing through the Zoid Core of his Zabat. Another spasm of hunger hit Jason as he lurched away from the Zoid.
"What's happening to me?!" he cried out.
Jason managed to stagger a few steps away from the Zoid, then fell to his knees. His eyes were wide with alarm. He didn't know what was happening. He didn't know why he had this excruciating hunger for blood and life energy. He didn't know what had happened before he had fallen asleep.
'If only I knew,' Jason thought as he stood on all fours, clutching the earth with his hands, staring down at the whirling green and brown spiral below him.
{A/N: Getting better? Am I reeling you fishies in? Hehe... Don't worry, I'll update soon enough... Just wait like good little boys and girls and you will get the update you want. Just don't forget to review! ^.~}
